Blackjack is a card game where you play against the dealer. You win by finishing with a higher total without going over 21, or by staying in the hand when the dealer goes over 21. You do not need exactly 21 to win. Start with two cards, then decide whether to hit, stand, double down, split or surrender when the rules allow it.
Learn by doing: read the six steps below, try the ace example, then practise a hand for free. No real-money bet is needed to learn the controls.
How to play blackjack: step by step
- Choose a table and place your bet. Check the minimum and maximum bet, and the payout for a blackjack, before you sit down.
- Receive your cards. You receive two cards and can see one dealer card. In a hole-card game, the dealer also has a face-down card. In some games, including European no-hole-card blackjack, the dealer takes the second card after players act.
- Check for blackjack. If you have an ace and a ten-value card, you have a blackjack. If the dealer’s up card is an ace or ten, the dealer may check for blackjack straight away.
- Play your hand. Choose hit, stand, double, split or surrender, as explained below.
- The dealer plays. Once all players have finished, the dealer reveals the hole card, or takes a second card in a no-hole-card game, then draws according to fixed rules.
- Settle the bets. Winning hands are paid, losing hands are collected, and ties are returned.
Blackjack set-up and card values
Blackjack is played at a semicircular table with a dealer and usually up to seven players. Each player plays only against the dealer, not against the other players. Casinos use anywhere from one to eight standard 52-card decks, and shoes of six or eight decks are the most common.
Card values are simple:
- Cards 2 to 10 are worth their face value.
- Jack, queen and king are each worth 10.
- Ace is worth 1 or 11, whichever helps the hand more.
A hand that contains an ace counted as 11 is called a soft hand, such as A-6, which is soft 17. A hand without an ace, or with an ace that must count as 1, is a hard hand. You will see these words often in our blackjack terms glossary.
Your choices: hit, stand, double, split and surrender
- Hit: take another card. Take another card if you choose, unless the hand is already complete or a rule restricts further draws. Split aces commonly receive only one additional card.
- Stand: keep your total and end your turn.
- Double down: double your bet, receive exactly one more card, and then stand. It is usually available on your first two cards, sometimes only on specified totals. The right decision also depends on the dealer’s upcard; use a chart for the table rules.
- Split: if your first two cards are a pair, place a second bet equal to the first and play two separate hands. Each hand gets a second card. Rules can limit resplitting, doubling after a split and drawing to split aces. An ace plus a ten-value card after splitting normally counts as 21, not a natural blackjack. Read our full guide to splitting aces and other pairs.
- Surrender: some tables let you give up a weak hand and lose half your bet. See when to surrender.
- Bust: if your total goes over 21 you lose, even if the dealer later busts as well.
Insurance and even money
If the dealer’s up card is an ace, you may be offered insurance. It is a side bet of up to half of your original bet that pays 2:1 if the dealer has blackjack. Basic strategy players generally decline it, as it is a bet with a built-in house edge. If you have a blackjack, you may also be offered even money, which is the same as taking insurance on a hand that has blackjack.
The dealer’s rules
The dealer has no choices to make. In standard blackjack, the dealer draws on totals of 16 or lower and stands on hard 17 or higher. Soft 17 has a separate rule. At some tables the dealer stands on soft 17 (S17), and at others the dealer hits soft 17 (H17). The rule is printed on the table, and S17 is better for the player when the other rules are the same.
How blackjack pays and who wins
| Result | Profit or loss | Total returned |
|---|---|---|
| You beat the dealer, or the dealer busts while you stay in | +$10 (1:1) | $20 |
| Your natural blackjack wins at a 3:2 table | +$15 | $25 |
| Your natural blackjack wins at a 6:5 table | +$12 | $22 |
| A tie (push), including two natural blackjacks | $0 | $10 |
| You lose the hand or bust | −$10 | $0 |
| You surrender when allowed | −$5 | $5 |
A blackjack must be an ace and a ten-value card as your first two cards. A three-card 21 is not a blackjack, and a natural blackjack beats an ordinary 21. Always check that the table pays 3:2, because some pay 6:5, which is worse for the player.
Example hand: why the dealer’s upcard matters
You bet $10 and are dealt 9 and 7, a hard 16. The dealer shows a 6. For a standard multi-deck game, basic strategy says stand: taking another card is the worse choice on average against this upcard. That does not mean the dealer is certain to bust. The dealer reveals a 10 in the hole for 16, and must hit. The dealer draws a 9 and busts with 25, so you are paid $10.
Now imagine the dealer had shown a 10 instead. For this two-card 9 + 7 in a standard multi-deck game, surrender against a dealer 10 if late surrender is available; otherwise hit. This example is not a rule for a pair of 8s, which has its own split decision. The same hand can call for different plays depending on the dealer’s card, and that is why a strategy chart helps.
Three hands to recognise at a glance
| Your cards | Hand | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Ace + King | Natural blackjack | Two original cards totalling 21. Check the blackjack payout. |
| Ace + 6 | Soft 17 | The ace counts as 11. If you draw a 9, it becomes 1 and your total is hard 16. |
| 10 + 5 + 6 | Ordinary 21 | A strong total, but not a natural blackjack. An ordinary win pays 1:1. |
Playing online or in a casino
The aim is the same online and at a live table, but the rules can differ between individual games. Online, you click buttons for Hit, Stand, Double and Split, and the game shows each hand total. Live dealer games work like a casino, with hand signals replaced by buttons. Before you start, find the rules page for the table. It states the blackjack payout, the soft 17 rule and whether you can double after a split or surrender.
Common beginner mistakes
- Taking insurance when you have a strong hand, thinking it protects you.
- Playing a 6:5 table without noticing the lower blackjack payout.
- Standing on a stiff hand such as 12 against a 10, or hitting a hard 17.
- Playing on feel rather than from a strategy chart.
- Raising bets after losses to win the money back.
Basic strategy and where to practise
Every decision in blackjack has a mathematically best play, set out in basic strategy. Following it keeps the house edge as low as the rules allow, but it cannot remove it, and it does not guarantee that you will win. Choose a chart that matches the number of decks, the dealer’s soft-17 rule, doubling after splitting and surrender. Some decisions change between two-deck and eight-deck games, and no-hole-card rules can change decisions too.
The simplest way to learn is to play with no money at stake. You can try our free blackjack games first and move on once the options feel natural.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play blackjack?
Place a bet, receive two cards, and decide whether to hit, stand, double or split to get closer to 21 than the dealer without going over. The dealer then plays by fixed rules.
What is the goal of blackjack?
To beat the dealer’s hand. You do that by having a higher total without exceeding 21, or by the dealer busting.
What is a blackjack?
An ace and a ten-value card in your original two-card hand. It beats an ordinary 21, but ties another natural blackjack. A 3:2 table pays $15 profit on a winning $10 blackjack; a 6:5 table pays $12.
How many cards do you get in blackjack?
You start with two and may take more by hitting when allowed. In a hole-card game the dealer starts with two; in a no-hole-card game the dealer takes the second card after the players act.
Is an ace worth 1 or 11?
Use 11 when it keeps the hand at 21 or below; otherwise use 1. A + 6 is soft 17. Add a 9 and the ace becomes 1, making 16 rather than 26.
Do you need exactly 21 to win?
No. For example, 19 beats a dealer 18. A hand below 21 also wins if the dealer busts, provided you have not already busted.
What does the dealer do at 17?
The dealer stands on a hard 17. On soft 17, it depends on the table. Some dealers stand and some hit.
Blackjack has a house edge and no strategy guarantees a win. Only gamble where permitted and after meeting your location’s minimum legal age. If gambling is causing you problems, help is available at BeGambleAware.
Rules references
For more detail on standard rules and table-specific decisions, see the Wizard of Odds blackjack rules and basic strategy calculator. The rules shown inside your chosen game take precedence for that game.
Deal five hands. Name your total.
Use the hit-and-stand table to practise reading hard and soft totals. Say your total before choosing an action. It does not include doubles, splits or surrender.
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- ○ How to Play Blackjack
- ○ Blackjack Strategy
- ○ Card Counting
- ○ Blackjack Odds
- ○ Blackjack Bankroll Management
- ○ The Rules Behind Splitting Aces
- ○ When Should You Surrender at Blackjack?
- ○ European Blackjack
- ○ Perfect Pairs Blackjack
- ○ Super 21 Blackjack
- ○ Free Online Blackjack
- ○ Real Time Gaming Blackjack Guide
- ○ Microgaming Blackjack Guide